As far as saltwater fish I definitely would love to have Angelfish if it weren't for the minimum size (200g) for most angels - particularly the Queen Angel and Emperor Angel. The Lookdown fish are awesome too. At first I'm going to get fish for the novice, like the Firefish Goby: Deepwater Candy Basslet: Bartlett's Anthias (semi-aggressive):
I've been out of the country and slammed with company meetings, but I just saw this. I have a 110-gallon saltwater tanks with seahorses, some tangs, and a few other fish. Most addictive hobby. So expensive, yet so fun. I've had tanks since I was 4, and started SW 15 years ago (I was motivated by the thought of seahorses). You get the tank up yet? Pics?
I'm definitely going to pick your brain when I get my cube. Did you check the compatibility of your fish before you bought them? I've learned that Triggerfish will kill just about anything smaller than them. I had no idea they were that aggressive. Especially the undulated trigger. Do you have any experience with basslets or gobies?
I mean, at 17, when I started...... I had an idea about compatibility but I generally (and stupidly) through too many fish into the tank. I think everyone pretty much starts out that way. You go through a lot of trial-and-error. Seahorses and tangs are why I started saltwater in the first place. Be prepared for store employees to talk to you like they know everything and they created the Bible of saltwater tanks. I shake my head and act like their opinion matters. I've been blasted for having seahorses and tangs together. But, in my current setup, I started with my blue and yellow tangs when they were small, and after I had established the seahorses. The seahorses and tangs now swim together, but I do have to target feed the horses (the yellow tang is a pig). I have had several types of gobies over the year. Most are quite easy. If you want to be entertained, get a goby and pistol shrimp pair. Their relationship is quite neat, really. Are there any gobies in particular you're looking at? Even though they're not technically a goby, I am partial to the psychedelic goby. Most basslets are pretty easygoing, too. I've only had 2 or 3 over the years, but they were pretty hardy and add some nice color to the tank. As for triggerfish...... yeah, they are pretty rough on all other fish that are smaller. If you want a community tank, I'd recommend against it. They will also snack on corals, especially softies. I know you were going without coral, but believe me, you'll slowly start adding soft corals, then adding hardy stony corals (it's addictive). So, I'd recommend planning accordingly.
I'll look into that. That actually sounds awesome. Maybe LiveAquaria will have the pair. The Goby that I really want is the Helfrich Firefish Goby. A Ruby Red Dragonet are on my wishlist but I understand they aren't for newbies like myself. They have to be fed in a particular way - turkey baster? Tangs are awesome. The Achilles Tang is one of the coolest fish I've seen. It's like a work of art. Same goes for the Gem Tang.
The Achilles Tang is beautiful, but they do need a lot of space, high-quality work, and generally, you should have some solid experience and an established tank before even attempting to keep them (given their cost, you don't even want to bother risking it until you are positive you can meet their needs). Even the Blue Tangs, which are so readily available in the trade, can be rather difficult to get established (but if you do, you will be very happen with them in your tank). There are a few variations of the Blue Tang depending on the ocean/sea they're from, but all beautiful (though the more rare variations are more intriguing, naturally). The issue with the Ruby Red Dragonet is its dietary needs. They need a tank with a well-established bed full of pods. When you set your tank up, buy some pods from an online aquaculture store. While you'll naturally seed your tank with live rock and other things, seeding your tank with pods can help establish your tank much quickly so that it can offer all of your fish some level of natural, live food. I had a RRD for 3 years. It did fine in my 110g. After 4-6 months with the RRD, it began eating the frozen mysis I was feeding my seahorses. This is a very nutritious food source, and the fish did quite well until I had to tear my tank down when we bought our current house a year ago.
Definitely the reason why I want to start out with Gobies and certain Anthias. There's a learning curve that'll take time and experience. When I graduate to a bigger tank the fish that tops my list is the Queen Angel.
Bump! These orig. plans didn't come to fruition but now it's back on. Super glad I waited- I have a WAY better understanding of water chemistry (pH, hardness, etc.). Looking back I was leaning towards African cichlids - this time around Im opting for Discus with Altum angels. A school of diamomd head tetras as well - the hybrid neon tetra. Filtration I'm definitely leaning towards RO water with a quality canister system.
my wife has kept a 110 gallon saltwater tank for about 12 years now. clown fish are good starters and hard to kill. trust me I know cause we have moved that tank to new environs 3times not including bringing it home and they are surviv0rs. another rule of thumb is don't name any until you have had them for about 2 months. puffer are my wifes favorites and she had one she hand fed frozen brine shrimp. I have several friends here that are collectors or commercial harvesters as you would say. the yellow tangs are the big islands bread and butter aquarium export species and are managed in a sustainable yield quota. those same divers have brought her some pretty fabulous critters over the years but like I said don't get attatched right away. they all have special needs and fill niches in in the open ocean that make duplicating in a closed en vironement tough. one of the funniest critters were are urchins. wife kept finding her thermometers broken and not having a clue why. the juvey urchins were climbing the sides of the glass to the top, securing are free ride back down by grabbing the floating thermometers and releaseeing them to shoot back to the surface and break against the glass covers.
Every so often you Herman about people finding piranhas in the Willamette. Borderline survivability for them, which is why they were banned for a bit. I have a 100g tank in my basement. Saltwater. 6 sea horses and 2 pipefish at the moment.
I had piranhas for a year. They were fun. Started at the size of a dime. Couldn't do it anymore. It was tough feeding them goldfish, and then they got big and I was told to baby chicks and shit. That was it for me. No fucking way.
Clownfish seem to be the most recommended for marine starters. Piranha's are interesting to keep - the diamomd rhoms in particular - but these are the holy grail of FW aggressive fish: A super blue channa barca snakehead - every species of snakeheads are highly illegal in every state though. Speaking of marine tanks -- if/when I graduated up to a SW tank a coldwater marine setup is very intriguing. They are tricky to keep from what I understand - chillers are a must. Here is an Oregon Coast biotope:
How are they to eat? I mean, if you have one die off because the conditions aren't right, it seems like it would be a waste to just toss it down the toilet..... (asking for a friend...) (@SlyPokerCat)
when I fished out of Newport/south beach my wife delivered baked goods to the aquarium there daily and got interested in keeping a saltwater then. I remember some of the jellyfish exhibits were jaw dr0pping.(keiko too of course). our golden retriever sarah used to follow her in just to bark at keiko.
I've got a 13 gallon mini reef. Orange clown, black clown, and 4 corals. I also had a Rainford Goby, but it died yesterday. Sucks! Gonna try to find a new one. http://www.biotaaquariums.com/
Discus are awesome, beautiful fish! I've always wanted a tank with them, but I've heard they are very high maintenance.
